16 October, 1998 - London, England - the Astoria

review by Ann ticket stub and set list from Ann included at the bottom of this page

I didn't think I'd be able to see any of his solo shows, but when I got this opportunity I couldn't resist. After all, how often do we see Mark perform his solo material? Right. So Friday night I thus found myself in the queue ouside the London Astoria in the light drizzle. While the place wasn't filled up (the upper area was empty) I'm surprised so many people were actually there, considering he's not the most known singer around. (Asking about the 'Stay' single at Virgin's earlier that day the response was 'Huh? Who's that?' And they didn't have it either.)

The Astoria was a nice place though, allowing you to get right up to the stage. Not a security man in sight. (And with that great crowd, who'd  need one anyway? ;)

Accompanied only by his acoustic guitar, Mike Johnson opened the show with a collection of his songs (including "Where Am I?", "I Don't Love You" and "Leaving Greensleeves"). I've never heard him live before, but I have to say he sounded great, much better than I remember from what I've heard on record. The crowd, in awe and appreciatively silent during the songs, loved him.

After a somewhat extended wait, Mark Lanegan and his band (Mike Johnson - guitar, Ben Shepherd - bass, Marc Olsen - guitar, Mark Bouquist - drums) came on stage. Looking fine and sounding even better, Mark launched into 'Ugly Sunday' (not going strictly by the written setlist). While the songs on the albums are generally on the softer side, performed live they were definitely rockier. 'Hotel', for example, was performed much faster than the album version. At Astoria, these songs really rocked! 'The Winding Sheet', 'Borracho' and 'Because of This' sounded almost menacing at times!

The band did a great job as well, giving the songs an extra dimension. Extra applauds to Ben Shepard, who really anchored the songs and emphazising bass lines I've hardly noticed before, especially so in 'Because of This' where he kept a steady pounding beat to the jam of Johnson and Olsen. The only drawback was that at times Mark's voice was nearly drowned out by the music.

As customary he hardly spoke, apart from the occasional 'Thank you' and introducing the band members. Nevertheless, as far as was possibly to see in the rather dim light (at one point he asked the tech to turn the spotlights down) he seemed to be enjoying himself. Not only did he make a stunning performance, he gave TWO encores - even adding an extra song to the 14-song set! The crowd couldn't get enough of him!

Setlist:

Ugly Sunday
Pendulum
The River Rise
House A Home
Last One In The World
Hotel
Bell Black Ocean ('Lullabye')
Stay
Mockingbirds
The Winding Sheet
Borracho
Encore 1:
Hospital Roll Call ('16')
Because Of This

Encore 2:
Sworn And Broken
Carnival

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review by David

Arriving just 10 minutes before the band drifted onstage, I annoyingly missed Mike Johnson's support slot, what were they doing on so early? This wasn't how I had dreamt it, and I've dreamt about this moment for years, but it was always late night in some small dark smoke-filled club. The Astoria's too big. Or so I thought.

From the opening lines of Ugly Sunday, I realized that this was it. This was my dream. The emotion and feeling in Mark's voice makes even large venues seem intimate, like he's singing just for you. By the third song, River Rise, that was it, overcome with emotion, tears filled my eyes. Songs that I never thought I'd hear filled the room with such an emotional intensity that the crowd looked on in appreciative awe.

Mark sounded amazing, and in his customary pose - clutching on to the mic, nodding his head to the music, he seemed genuinely pleased with the way it sounded. He even afforded a smile at some of Mike Johnson's axe posturing during The Winding Sheet. Backed with the full band, the songs sounded less sparse than the studio recordings. The final three songs, Mockingbirds, The Winding Sheet and Borracho, worked their way towards a menacing crescendo. Leaving the crowd wanting more.

Returning to the darkened stage for two encores, including an equally menacing Because Of This before finishing with resounding versions of Sworn & Broken and Carnival. A quick thank you and he was gone. "Thought I saw you in a dream". Oh, yes indeed.

Set list:

Ugly Sunday
Pendulum
River Rise
House a Home
Last One in the World
Hotel
Black Bell Ocean
Stay
Mockingbirds
The Winding Sheet
Borracho
Encore 1
Hospital Roll Call
Because of This

Encore 2
Sworn & Broken
Carnival

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review by Nila

Ok so, it's October 16, another hard day at work and by the time I'm ready to head for the Astoria it's beginning to rain lightly. Which seems sort of perfect really.

I get there at about 6.10 p.m., really early but it means I manage to get right to the front of the queue and hide out of the rain. It's quite chilly and I'm getting to the 'I don't wanna wait any longer' stage. I never really thought I'd see this, see Mark Lanegan live, and the longer the wait the slower the time goes and the more I begin to believe something's going to go wrong.

But that's not what happens at all.

At about 6.50 the Astoria enters the Twilight Zone and I still swear it was Mark and Mike I saw marching in the door. I remember thinking 'only 40 minutes to go, wonder what's going on inside' and answering myself 'not much, cos they're here'. Both big guys, really tall and taking giant steps in out of the rain. My heart nearly stopped when I saw them. I wanted to pinch myself and check I hadn't fallen asleep and started dreaming!

Finally the doors open awhile later and we all pile in. The Astoria's pretty full but I get a great spot on the raised bit so I can see everything and everyone.

One beer and several cigs later and Mike comes out, just him and his guitar, and plays the most beautiful set. He played this song, I think it's called 'Separation' which was absolutely heartbreaking. It's one of the saddest, truest, most painful songs I've ever heard.

Mike plays a few more songs and doesn't really say much in between beyond 'thanks' which is fine. His voice is amazingly deep, I mean welling-up-from-his-boots deep. I've never heard anything like it before.

And then, after lot of messing around with instruments onstage and with my heart in my mouth, Mark comes out. God it's actually happening, I think to myself. I still can't quite believe it.

Ugly Sunday gets things off to a great start. Mark's voice justs soars over the instruments with no effort whatsoever.

I didn't write down any order of what was played but 'Hotel', which has to be one of my most favourite songs ever, was just astonishing. It's an intense song anyway but live it's something else again. I still get shivers just thinking about it.

Carnival and Winding Sheet are beautiful. I think Mark almost smiles when he's singing Carnival, maybe thinking about the irony of the words, who knows? Borracho is played with real bite - Mike looks as if he's attacking his guitar not playing it and Mark bellows out the words like he really means them.

And after awhile, they all troop off. And to much shouting and yelling troop back on again.....and off again awhile later....and on again...... I'd just like to say guys, that if you thought you'd get away with only one encore, well, you weren't getting off that easily!!

The only thing that spoiled this beautiful moment were the idiots yelling for Trees songs (not that Trees songs aren't great but it isn't every day that Mark plays solo...). Finally Mark relents, and plays a beautiful rendition of Sworn and Broken.

Because of This comes up and very nearly takes my ears off. It's way better live than on record (and that's saying something) but it helps that Mark has such great people backing him up. Everyone plays really well together and there's a fair amount of on-stage chat amongst them. Mark says a few thank you's and one really odd comment, to the effect of 'I feel like a dirty old man standing up here'. He sure didn't look lke one.

I know this gets discussed forever but he really did look good. Ok so it was a little dark and stuff but he wasn't as thin as before when I saw the Trees in '96 and brown hair suits him.

Finally they all go off and this time it's really over. I only heard good comments after the show which is good for me because I always get really annoyed when people say 'he didn't get into the show'. Mark gave his heart and soul out there and just because he stands still doesn't mean he's not into it. Those songs are so special that they need singing and if you're out of breath from flinging yourself around it ain't gonna happen!! (sorry, rant over).

I go home happy and stone deaf, nearly getting run over by a cab in the process cos I didn't hear it coming and I wasn't really concentrating.

The only wish I have is that Mark comes back over.

Soon.

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